Raspberry plant named ‘NN08002’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct floricane fruiting red raspberry,  Rubus idaeus  L., variety is described. The variety results from selection among a population of seedlings derived from a controlled cross between ‘Wakefield’ (seed parent) (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,185) and ‘NR14’ (pollen parent) (not patented). The new variety is distinguished from others by large, very firm fruit that have a medium red skin colour, and ripen midseason. Fruit of the new variety appears very suitable for machine harvesting and the process fruit market.

Genus and species plant claimed: Rubus idaeus L.

Variety denomination: ‘NN08002’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of red raspberry, Rubus idaeus L., was created in the course of a planned breeding program carried out at Lynden, Washington State, USA. It was selected from a population of seedlings derived from a controlled cross carried out in 2006 between ‘Wakefield’ (seed parent) (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,185) and ‘NR14’ (pollen parent) (not patented). The original plant of the new variety was selected in 2008 for suitability for machine harvesting and for process markets. In 2010, ‘NN08002’ was asexually propagated by tissue culture. The resulting plants were planted at Lynden, Wash., USA and were subsequently found to be true to type demonstrating that the characteristics of the new variety, ‘NN08002’, are stable and transmitted without change through succeeding generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘NN08002’ is characterised by large, very firm, red fruit suitable for machine harvesting and for processing.

‘NN08002’ is distinguished from a number of varieties by the following characteristics:

When compared to ‘Meeker’, ‘NN08002’ fruit has lighter red skin colour, larger size and is firmer.

When compared to ‘Wakefield’, ‘NN08002’ fruit has lighter red skin colour, larger size and begins ripening earlier.

When compared to ‘NR14’, ‘NN08002’ fruit is firmer and larger in size.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the plant, fruit, and leaves of the new variety was depicted in colours as nearly true as is reasonably possible to make the same colour in illustrations of this character.

FIG. 1: ‘NN08002’ three year old plant.

FIG. 2: ‘NN08002’ fruit on bush.

FIG. 3: Mature ‘NN08002’ fruit and receptable.

FIG. 4: ‘NN08002’ primocane.

FIG. 5: ‘NN08002’ upper surface of leaf.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Horticultural terminology is used in accordance with UPOV guidelines for raspberry. All dimensions are in millimeters, weights in grams (unless otherwise stated). Where a color reference is given these refer to The R.H.S. Color Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London. 4th Edition, 2001. The specimens described were grown in Lynden, Washington State, USA. The plants were 3 years old.

Environmental data for the Lynden, Wash., USA growing area demonstrates conditions in spring and early summer (equating to the harvest period for the variety) as follows:

-   -   Spring (April/May); mean daily temperature in the range         10-11° C. (mean daily minimum 5.5° C., mean daily maximum 15.5°         C.).     -   Early summer (June/July); mean daily temperature 16° C. (mean         daily minimum 10° C., mean daily maximum 21.5° C.).

In winter temperatures below 0° C. are common, the daily mean for December/January is 2.5° C. with the lowest temperature unlikely to be colder than −13° C. Average annual rainfall is approximately 1500 mm.

-   Flower description:     -   -   Plant and foliage.—Plants exhibit a strong upright growth             habit. Average cane length was approximately 242 cm with an             average of 35 nodes per cane and an internode average length             of 12 mm. The average diameter of the canes at 1-1.5 m             height was 10 mm. Spines were present with an approximate             density of 31 per cm of cane less than 30 cm from the base             and near the tip approximately 1 per cm. In the centre             region of the canes spines were sparse. The colour of the             spines was near greyed purple 187B with average size of base             of spine 0.9 mm and average length 0.6 mm. Cane pubescence             (controlled by what is known as gene H) was absent and canes             have very little cane bloom. The colour of the mature cane             on the sunny side was near greyed purple 183C and on the             shady side near yellow green 145A. The average length of             leaf axil buds after harvest was 6 mm. Young shoots were             erect in attitude and were near yellow green 144A and B in             colour. There was no anthocyanin coloration of the growing             tip. Both three and five leaflets were present. The terminal             leaflet shape of the apex was pointed and the shape of the             base was cordate. The shape of the leaf upper side in cross             section was flat to convex. The upper side of the leaf was             moderately glossy with few hairs with moderately strong             puckering. Average total leaf length was 24 cm, average             total leaf width was 21 cm, average terminal leaflet length             was 11 cm and average terminal leaflet width was 7 cm. Leaf             color on the upper side was near green 137A and lower side             was near grey-green 194A. The leaf margin was serrate. There             was pronounced leaf venation and the vein coloration was             near yellow green 145B. Average leaf petiole length was 8 mm             and average diameter was 3 mm. Petiole color was near yellow             green 145B with anthocyanin coloration on the upper side             near grey-purple 183A. Hairs were present on the petioles.         -   Infloresence.—Flowers were arranged in a paniculate             inflorescence. Average pedicel length was 18 mm and average             width was 1 mm. Moderate anthocyanin coloration was found on             the sunny side of the pedicel, near red-purple 59A and on             the shady side the color was near yellow green 144A. Spines             were present on the pedicel with approximately 2 per             pedicel. Average spine length was 1.4 mm and diameter             0.8 mm. Average peduncle length was 14 mm and average             diameter 1.3 mm. The color of the peduncle near the top was             red-purple 59A and near the base yellow green 144A. Flowers             had five sepals and were near grey green, 194A on the outer             sepal and near the base the color was near yellow green             144A. Average sepal length was 12 mm. Average diameter of             the terminal flower was 8.1 mm. Five petals were present and             average petal length was 7.4 mm and average width 3.6 mm.             The petal shape was vase, the shape of the tip moderately             pointed and the shape of the base flat. The petals had             moderate venation and the margins were smooth. The primary             color of the petals was white 155C. Flowers contained an             average of 93 stamens and average length of the stamen             filament was 4 mm. The color of the stamens and filament was             near white 155C. The anthers was approximately 0.6 mm in             length and near grey brown, 199A in color. Approximately 81             stigma were present per flower and the color of the stigma             was near yellow green 145C. Flower fragrance was absent. -   Fruit:     -   -   Fruit.—Fruit was produced on previous year's cane in summer.             Fruit was conical in shape and average berry weight was 4.8             g, average length 23.7 mm and average width 20.9 mm. Fruit             had a long pointed receptable which had an average length of             16 mm and average width of 7 mm. Fruit skin color and flesh             color was near red purple, 59A. Skin had medium glossiness             and hairs were present. The width of an average single             druplet was 4 mm. Approximately 80 seeds were present per             fruit. The average seed weight was 0.16 g and when dry had a             near greyed orange 164D and N170D color. Average seed length             was 2.8 mm and average width 1.5 mm. Fruit was firm and the             fruiting lateral had a dropping habit. Soluble solids             concentration averaged 10.2° Brix.         -   Harvest.—‘NN08002’ fruit is harvested mid-season and begins             ripening earlier than ‘Wakefield’ and around the same time             as ‘Meeker’. It is very suitable for harvest by machine due             to the ease with which fruit dislodges from the receptacle.             Fruit is firm and well suited to individually quick frozen             (IQF) operations. The red color of the fruit means it is             also suitable for other types of processing markets. In             machine harvested trials in the Pacific North West, USA, the             average fruit yield over several seasons was 6.9 t/acre.         -   Pest and disease resistance.—‘NN08002’ has tested negative             to numerous RBDV tests using enzyme-linked immunosorbent             assay (ELISA) and no RBDV symptoms have been seen in the             field on plants resulting in the conclusion that ‘NN08002’             is likely to be resistant to RBDV found in the USA. In field             trials in the Pacific North West, USA, ‘NN08002’ appears to             have some tolerance to root rot caused by Phytophthora rubi.         -   Geographical adaption.—Observations indicate that the             variety is well-suited to production in regions that offer a             medium-high amount of winter chill, for example, ‘NN08002’             performs well in USDA Plant Hardiness zones 8-10 (published             as the 2003 US National Arboretum “Web Version” of the USDA             Plant Hardiness Zone Map USDA Miscellaneous Publication No.             1475, Issued January 1990). 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct raspberry plant substantially as illustrated and described herein. 